Suprolorin implant... update number 2

[BillysMum]

I think it is a fairly new thing, i certainly didn't hear about it when i had my lab castrated 2 years ago but a friend told me she'd heard about it and i looked into it and spoke to my vet.

Well he's booked in for 2:30pm on Thursday so i will update afterwards and let you all know how we get on

[anthony mazzeri]

It's been available here in Australia and NZ for a while now (so there are already arguments about people using it on show dogs as cheating, ie male dogs can concentrate without distraction by females, so unfair!), but only just recently approved in the EU so vets in Europe will still be new to it. It's not available in the US or Canada yet, but soon there too I think.

I am still amazed at how I drove little Alfred to the vet and drove back 15 minutes later with him 'desexed', sitting next to me like nothing had happened. No surgery, no anaesthetic, no stitches, no recovery period. And the only reason it took 15 minutes was the 10 minutes waiting for the local to work first before inserting the bigger needle (it's similar to inserting a microchip behind the shoulder, but slightly smaller).

[PennyB]

He has began to follow the scent of in season bitches that are walked in the park here, even as much as running accross the road after one so i'm pretty sure castration will help with that. sadly when theres no in season bitches being walked then his recall is 100%

I have recently read of several castrated dogs which are still highly motivated by a bitch in season (including more than one which has tied with a receptive bitch) so this may not be the solution that you hope it will be   

I am always astounded at the behaviour of entire bitch owners that I read about here; I don't use parks, so it always comes as a shock to hear that in-season bitches are walked in public parks on a regular basis 

Its difficult though when you only have a postage stamp for a garden plus if you live in some cities you can carry the scent of your dog with you plus dogs on the park could smell Ruby just by walking past the house as I live close to the park and on a dog walking route.

[BillysMum]

I'm pleased to hear that someone from Oz/NZ where its been available for a while has had the implant (well their dog has  ) and its quite popular, thats quite reassuring so thanks for posting anthony

People walk their in season bitches here at prime dog walking times and even allow them offlead, it does make me angry but thats a whole other topic  These are the ones that billy follow the scent of and i know this because he's ended up following one down the road, the owner waited for me to find her and couldn't believe billy had "run off" after her  another owner told me not to worry and let nature take its course when billy ran from one side of the heath to the other to find her   

[Countrygirl]

I am always astounded at the behaviour of entire bitch owners that I read about here; I don't use parks, so it always comes as a shock to hear that in-season bitches are walked in public parks on a regular basis 

[/quote]

We were on holiday in the Lake District when Ellie was in season, were we supposed to just sit in the cottage for a week?

As it was, not one dog bothered with her, even when we were talking to people who had boy dogs, not one of them even sniffed her.  So I am glad we did not ruin our holiday by sitting staring at four walls or just the view from the garden.

[Cob-Web]

We were on holiday in the Lake District when Ellie was in season, were we supposed to just sit in the cottage for a week?

As it was, not one dog bothered with her, even when we were talking to people who had boy dogs, not one of them even sniffed her.  So I am glad we did not ruin our holiday by sitting staring at four walls or just the view from the garden.

Excellent; I'm glad that you had a good holiday 

However, it is quite possible that dogs (not just entire dogs, but neutered dogs, too) could have followed Ellie's scent hours after you walked past their house, or in their usual dog-walking haunts.........

I'm not saying there is an easy answer, but it is hard for dog owners because we have no idea if the bitch in the distance is giving off scent, or a girl has given a come-hither scent over our front lawn hours before we leave the house 

I'm lucky, I can walk on bridlepaths and footpaths that are rarely frequented by other walkers - ironically, my walking areas are ideal for walking bitches in season - but on the rare occasions that I DO take my dogs on holiday and use public parks, I am incredibly aware of this issue since it has been highlighted here on COL 

[Miss Poohs]

with your implant today - hope it doesn't hurt and that it has the desired effect.

Cocker cuddles from Me and Vahri  - Rufters sends a wee snarl  (he's next for the jab)

[suzieq]

yes - good luck Billy
keep us posted

sue, zak and strider x

[*jean*]

best wishes for billy, and rufty tufty when its his turn   

[ludo]

Interested in this thread maybe for later on ... do you know if the testicles shrink as a result of the vaccine?  (asking in the context of showing entire males) 

[BillysMum]

Thanks everyone for the good luck wishes

Billy had the implant 4.5 hours ago and is currently chewing on a nice bone with Alfie so it seems he's no worse off for the whole experience! My vet was brilliant and explained it all to me and went through my reasons for wanting the implant instead of castration etc and then the vet nurse tried to make friends with billy so she could hold him while the implant was put in.... she gave him treats but he wouldn't take them infact he literally hung onto me so i said i'd hold him  He was really good considering the size of the needle thingy  Within seconds it was over though and Billy left the vets ALOT quicker and less waggy than he went in 

I then took him for an extra long walk for being so good I will keep you all updated with any progress!!

Miss Poohs... Billy says thank you for the cocker cuddles from you and Vahri and sends a little snarl back to Rufters 

[bev6951]

  so pleased it all went well, its been a really interesting thread so cant wait to read the updates 
  for Billy!!

[ClareB]

Glad it all went well today.  Look forward to hearing how he goes on with it. 

[Miss Poohs]

So glad he's none the worst for his experience.

How long does the drug take to get around the system and kick in?

Me and Vahri are sending more  and 

Rufters is now in the huff - says he likes his boy bits just the way they are 

[anthony mazzeri]

So your vet just stuck it straight in without giving a small local anaesthetic first? It's a bigger than average needle, ouch! Still, much less trauma than surgery - and Billy would still be at the vets instead of happily chewing a bone 4 hours later with Alfie.

Miss P, it takes a couple of weeks to reach zero testosterone levels. In some cases testosterone may spike a bit at the beginning, but that's how the artificial hormone works (it's an analogue of the natural GnRH hormone produced in the pituitary gland which regulates testosterone production) - in a single dose it boosts testosterone production, but continual low dose (as from the implant) tricks the body into thinking it's already producing enough GnRH and so stops its own production, so eventually no GnRH production = no testosterone production. And it takes approx 2-3 weeks for that to happen.

They're still working on a version for females, but at the moment it's just for male dogs so if they don't have the female one available within the next 5 months or so, my new girl pup will have to go through the traditional slice and dice method.